Geology 104

Field Excursion Suggestions

Fall 2001 Workshops
Date(s)/Time
Description
Cost
More information
September 14 - 16, 2001

National Association of Geoscience Teachers Fall Field Conference

This year, the conference is being sponsored by SJSU Geology Department and the USGS (Menlo Park). It will focus on Bay Area geology, including 8 field trips/workshops to choose from!

$60

Continuing Education credit (@$37 per unit) is available for Geology 104 to those who qualify!

 Go to the Conference Web Page for specific schedules, and more information.

Geosciences

Site
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
Black Diamond Mine Free tour, $3.50 parking fee 1 1/2 hour Visit a real mine shaft!  Tours are conducted the first and third Saturday of every month.  For information, call 925/757-2620.
California Caverns, Moaning Caverns, Boyden Caverns Varies, with the number of cave tours purchased. Discount coupons available on their website. 2 1/2 hours Visit the website for all California Caverns, or call 209/736-2708.  Caverns are open from 10:00 AM -6 :00 PM (M-F), and 9:00 AM - 5:00 (Sa-Su).
Hayward Fault Free! 45 min. Visit Russ Graymer's (USGS) website
Petrified Forest in Calistoga Adults: $5; 
ages 12-17: $4; 
ages 4-11: $2		 1 1/2 hour Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  Call 707/942-6667 for further information, or visit their Website.  It is possible to combine a trip to the Petrified Forest with a visit of Old Faithful Geyser (see below).
Pinnacles National Monument $5 per vehicle; school groups may be eligible for a fee waiver.  Call the Park for details. 1 1/2 hour The area is open during daylight hours.  Vivitor Center: 8:00 AM-4:30 PM daily.  Call 408/389-4485 for park information, or visit the NPS Pinnacles Home Page
Old Faithful Geyser $6 (adults); $2 (ages 6-12) 1 1/2 hour Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.  Call 707/942-6463 for more information, or visit their website.  See Petrified Forest (above).
Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve Free! 45 min. Open daily from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.  Call 510/635-0135.  Visit their website for more information.
Yosemite Institute Varies with Program 4 hours .

Oceanography

Site
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
Ano Nuevo State Reserve (Hwy. 1, twenty miles north of Santa Cruz) Parking: $5.00 (car); $20.00 (bus, under 25 seats); $40.00 (bus, 25 seats and over). 1 hour The reserve is home to elephant seals, and other coastal critters.  Seal viewing hours: 8:30AM - 3:30PM (April through November); the reserve is closed Dec. 1-14, and accessibleby guided walks only Dec. 15-March 31 (breeding season).  See their website, send email, or call 650/879-0227 for more information.
James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (Moss Beach) Free. 1 1/2 hour Tidal pools!  Hours: dawn to dusk,  daily.  Visit a good (though "unofficial") website compiled by Greg Gladman, or call 650/728-3584 for more information.
Jospeh M. Long Marine Lab (at U.C. Santa Cruz) Admission is free the first Tuesday of every month.  At other times it is $2.00 (adults); $1.00 (students); free for ages 16 and younger. 1  hour Docent-led tours are conducted Tuesday through Sunday, 1:00PM-4:00PM).  Call 831/459-4308 for more information.
Marine Mammal Center (Marin Headlands, Sausalito) Free! 1 1/2 hour The main hospital is open daily, 10:00AM-4:00PM.  Call 415/289-SEAL for information on group tours (must be arranged at least one month in advance), or visit their website.
Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey) Adults: $14.95; ages 13-17, students with ID or seniors: $11.95; ages 3-12, or disabled: $6.95.  Special rates for school groups.  1 1/2 hour Hours: 10:00AM-6:00PM daily.  Call 831/648-4888 for more information, or visit their website.  For group rates and reservations call 831/648-4860.
Natural Bridges State Park (Santa Cruz) Day use fee: $6.00.  Call for school rates. 1 hour Coastal geology is highlighted by James Tait's webpage.  This is also a great place to catch migrating Monarch Butterflies in winter.  Butterfly tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday (11:00AM and 2:00PM) mid-October through February.  Call 831/423-4609 for more information.
Point Reyes National Seashore Free! 2 hours Open all year.  Coastal geology, ecology and spectacular scenery!  Call 415/663-1092, or visit their website for more information.

Astronomy/Space Sciences

Site
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
Lick Observatory Free! 1 hour Visitor Center Hours:  M-F, 12:30-5:00 PM; Sa-Su 10:00-5:00 PM.  Free tours are offered every half hour until 4:30 PM.   Call 408/274-5061 for information.  Lick Observatory Visitor Homepage
NASA Ames Research Center Free! 45 min.
NASA Ames Home Page

Interdisciplinary

Site
Cost
Travel Time
Further Information
California Academy of Sciences (Golden Gate Park, San Francisco) Adults: $8.50; youth (ages 12-17) and students with ID: $5.50; children (ages 4-11): $2.00; under 3: free. Admission is free the first Wednesday of every month. Reduced rates for school groups.  1 hour Hours: daily 10:00AM-5:00PM, including holidays.  Admission includes entry to the Steinhart Aquarium and Natural History Museum.  Morrison Planetarium admission is extra.  Visit their website, or call 415/750-7145.
Lawrence Hall of Science (Berkeley) Admission to exhinits, labs and planetarium: $6.00 (adults); $4.00 (students); $2.00 (ages 3-6).. 1 hour Hours: open daily, 10:00AM-5:00PM.  Call 510/642-5132 for information on school groups, or visit their website.
Santa Clara County Water Treatment Facility Free! 30 minutes
The Tech Museum of Innovation (San Jose) Adults: $9 (for exhibits or IMAX Theater), $16.00(combination ticket); ages 3-12: $7 (for exhibits or IMAX Theater), $13 (combination ticket).  N/A Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Tuesday-Sunday.  Call 408/279-7150 for more information, or visit their website for more information.
UC Museums at Blackhawk $8 (adults); $5 (students) 1 hour Hours: W-Su 10:00 AM -5:00 PM.  Call 510/736-2280 for more information or check out their website.